Electrolytic process and apparatus for the extraction of metals



Feb. 24, 1925. 1,527,526

4 R. RODRIAN ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF METALS File'd NOV. 10, 1922 Soul. i-riolv OF CAUSTiC 500/1 METAL Ben/WW MERCURY Inventor Mew/4R0 Foam/M MAM .fliiarneys county, and

Ioted cel citizen. ti

u h Ma Ye a, have Sii'flll lm otev tltitW L lorol a scie or outer shell matle if et le matet'iat, and to};-

B E the lower ends of in sedflw e H t of glase'et e upper eitge .BCl the item heat-eel l), source oi electricity @h eaict flange test ctoee pieces generally made elf Wood anti preferably hating inserts it ot plate glass 02? other insulating material to engage saicl flange llhe eaitl ci'osepieces E serve as euppotte "tot reel-like eleettodes G- 01' which 11 have shown. live; these eleettetlee may he made of item end are cohnectedi with the positive pole out the source of electricity, The numhet anal attahyemeht oi electtotlee may vai yn Below the hottom oil: the veeeel G ie looateol a suitable device for heating" it, lot instance a gas hornet" hln The material to he treated is first it It= quiitet brought into the form of a, time pow'olei in any suitable manner. Thie time material togethet' with catietie alkali it placed Within the veesel (U eetl meltetl to cheat suppliettloy means of the-burner NZ The material may consist t instahceet ohe'hun clrecl @100) 'poumlsiet lea'ol etilfitt ta) anti caustic s city o the vessel. gallohe Alt a layer ihcli'eateol in consisting of, lot instance, pounds of metcut q live poimcle i J3 1 meat oi the i "toy attclihg a suitable amount of acitl to iiqhitl L the iron oil the positive electte then golhg into solution and replam it e mote valuable metal in such coh1-- The electrodes G clip into the eleel j hut preferably do not teach the layer K. The current is then tllllhfidl oh and e same time heat is applied to the Vessel i'ei'e. Ifhe current may he a continuous t of from 8 to 24 volts, and from 20 1 ampetes, The voltage anel amperage .oe vatietl, loot in any event the elec tteeee dipping into the electrolyte L will he oeitite While the negative electroole will toeiheol loy the vessel, and by the mercury la l, The paseag'e oil the current through the material the veeselt) will cause the met-ale present as such to combine with the meteety so as to form amalgams therewith,

Any metals pteeent in the ma-tetial ae oxioee potassium if caustic potash was used. The amalgam of sodium or potassium thus obtained is much more efficient in attracting and holding the other metals thrown down from material under treatment than pure mercury would be. The addition of lead made to the mercury at the beginning of the electrical process is for the purpose of btaining a more compact metal alloy; instead of lead I may use other metals, for instance, .tin or zinc. I desire it to be understood however, that the addition of lead, tin, zinc or equivalent metal to the mercury is not absolutely essential. Heating the vessel (J and its contents also promotes the electrolytic action and insures greater fluidity of the mercury and of the amalgams resulting from the treatment so that these amalgams will be more efficient in taking up the other metals. The heat applied during the electrolytic treatment should preferably be such as to cause the contents of the vessel to boil, and the violent motion willassist in promoting the reaction and in allowing the metals extracted by electrolysis to sink to the bottom and combine with the mercury to form amalgamsu Instead of boiling the contents of the vessel, or in addition to such boiling, agitation by mechanical means or by the injection of air, steam, etc., may be resorted to.

After the completion of the electrolyticv treatment, the electrolyte and the residue of the layer K are separated from the mercury amalgam so that only the mercury amalgam remains at the bottom of vessel C. This mercury amalgam is then brought into a mercury still where, byheating in a wellknown manner, the mercury" is distilled oil, leaving the other metals as the final product of the rocess. In the particular example described, the electric current supplied may be of amperes and 20 volts, and the electrolytic treatment will be completed in about twenty hours.

In place of the solid caustic alkali I may use a solution thereof, preferably concentrated, and I may melt the metal-bearing materials in such solution or add them in a molten condition to such solution.

I claim as my invention:

1. The herein described process of extracting metals from metal-bearing material which consists in bringing said material into contact with a solution of a caustic alkali, and electrolyzing the mass over a layer of mercury.

2. The process of extracting metals from metal-bearing material which consists in melting the material with caustic alkali, then diluting the resulting mass with water and electrolyzing the resulting mass above a layer of mercury.

3. The herein described process of ex tracting metals from comminuted metalbearing material containing metal com pounds soluble in caustic alkali which consists in bringing the material in contact with a hot solution of caustic alkali, then adding an acid in amount suflicient at least to neutralize the alkali, and electrolyzing the mass over a layer of mercury.

4. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a metal shell or screen, legs for supporting said shell or screen, i11- sula-ting supports at the lower ends of said legs, and a metal vessel having an outwardly projecting flange resting on the upper edge of said screen so that the vessel may be suspended in the screen.

5. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a metal shell or screen,

legs for supporting said shell or screen, in-

sulating supports at the lower ends of said legs, and a metal vessel having an outwardly projecting flange resting on the upper edge of said screen so that the vessel may e suspended in the screen, and means for heating said vessel. v

6. In apparatus for the purpose described, a metal vessel, means for heating said vessel, cross pieces laid on the upper edge of said vessel, electrodes supported by said cross pieces, and glass plates set in said cross pieces where the same extend 'across the top of the vessel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

RICHARD RODRIAN. 

